48 BULLETIN 95^ UISTITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, 



among them. Maxillary scarcely reaching the vertical from anterior 

 border of eye; eye large, 1.33 in snout. 



Scales thin, somewhat deciduous, the concentric lines and radi- 

 ating striae partially absent or much less distinct than in Atherinop- 

 sis regius; jaws and snout naked; top of head scaled to front of eyes, 

 these forming a sort of shield. 



In examples 20 to 27 cm. in length the insertion of the first dorsal 

 is midway between base of caudal and anterior border of eye; in 

 specimens about 18 cm. in length it is about one diameter of eye 

 nearer base of caudal than tip of snout, and in small individuals it 

 is about midway between tip of snout and base of caudal. In these 

 examples the interorbital space is scarcely as constant as that re- 

 corded by Abbott, varying from 15 to 17.5 hundredths of the total 

 length ; origin of second dorsal above fifth or sixth anal ray ; caudal 

 forked; ventrals short; pectoral 1.45 to 1.55 in head. 



Color in alcohol of two large examples from Callao, silvery gray, 

 back above lateral stripe dusky, a median stripe along back and a 

 broad lateral stripe of blue. In the other examples the body has a 

 decidedly brownish wash and the lateral stripe is more distinct. 

 Steindachner records the same coloration for a specimen 18.6 cm. 

 in length from Callao as for our examples from that locality. 



That B. regillus and B. jordani of Abbott are synonj'mous with 

 this species there seems little doubt. Abbott's statement in de- 

 scription of B. 'regillus that " origin of first dorsal is nearer snout 

 than base of caudal by one-third length of head," should, according 

 to Starks, ^ read, " nearer base of caudal than snout by one-third 

 length of head." The main remaining difference between B. regillus 

 and B. jordani lies in the reported presence of vomerine teeth. 

 Prof. J. O. Snjder has kindly reexamined Abbott's types and cotypes 

 of B. regillus, octavius, and jordani and has given us the following 

 notes on vomerine teeth : 



Type of Basilichthys jordani: The right side of the vomer has been 

 destroyed. The center and left side have a few scattered teeth which 

 are about one- fourth as large as the largest teeth on the jaws; they 

 are rather evenly distributed and are not anywhere grouped in 

 patches. 



Cotype of B. jordani: On the vomer are two classes of teeth. 

 First larger ones, closely opposed and segregated in two patches, one 

 on each side, the patches being dissimilar in size and location, that 

 on the left side being larger, of stronger teeth and more anterior 

 in position. Second, very minute, short, bristle-like teeth scattered 

 over the surface of the bone between the patches of larger teeth. 



Type of B. octavius : The soft tissue has all been scraped from the 

 vomer. The vomer is very rough on each side and somewhat pitted 



iProc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 30, 1906, p. 783. 



